Pressure-indicating device and alarm signal



E. l. DASHNER AND C. H. FLINT.

PRESSURE lNDICATlNG DEVICE AND ALARM SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1920.

1,431,914. Patented 0st. 10,1922.

, "f ////////////0 If Invaders: Emery .IDashner; Charleslilllhli,

by K wjul Patented Oct."10, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

manner .1. nasnmm, or annxom, m canvas a. nun, or NEWTON, MASSA-' cnusn'r'rs.

PBESSUBEJNDICATING DEVICE AND ALL SIGNAL.

Application filed lay 11,1920. Serial H0. 380,909.

J United States of America, and residents of Belmont and Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Pressure-Indicating Devices and Alarm Signals, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to visible alarms for. motor cars and particularly to alarms of this character adapted to be actuated by oil pressure to indicate the operation of the 'oil circulating system, said alarm also being adapted to operate should the switch be'left on when the car is not in use.

The invention has for its object the pro vision of a simple but effective device for lighting a lamp when the pressure in the oil system is below a predetermined pressure, said device being placed in and out of commission by the same electric switch which completes the ignition circuit and controls the operation of the engine.

The invention consists primarily in providin the oil circulating system with a close compartment, having a diaphragm therein adapted to be moved by the oil in said system when it reaches a predetermined pressure and break the circuit to the lamp .thus extinguishing the light and indicatin to the driver that a greater pressure of oi is required.

The invention further consists in controlling the operation of the lamp circuit by the same switch that controls the ignition circuit of the engine so that if the lamp remains lit when the car is notin use, a warning will be given that the main switch has not been opened. p

The invention further consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be understood readily by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be herein-after given.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form havin been found to give satisfactory and relia le re sults although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged J. DAsHNnn limitedto the precise arrangement and or anuzation of these 'instrumentalities as erein shown and described, except as required the scope of the appended claims.

The ra w1ng is a diagrammatical view, partly in section, of an alarm system embodying the principles of the present invention.

In the drawings, 10 is a gasoline engine of an usual construction provided with a cylin er 11, a piston. 12, and a revoluble shaft 13.

The shaft 13 has secured thereto, a crank- 14 connected to the piston 12 by the link 15. The shaft 13 has an oil chamber 16 therein, lubricating oil being admitted thereto through the radial passage 17. The shaft 13 revolves in bearings 18 from which extends a passage 19 between the flanges of the crank casing 20.

The outer end of the passage 19 communicates with a pipe 21, the opposite end of which communicates with an oil chamber- 22 beneath the crank casing 20 and communicating therewith by a passage 23.

In the oil chamber 22 is a device 24 for forcing the oil through the pipe 21 and into the bearings of the shaft 13 and crank 14. This oil-forcing device or pump 24 may be of any well-known construction.

From the pipe 21 extends a branch pipe 25 on the opposite end of which is mounted the usual pressure gage 26.

At any convenient point on the car there A is mounted a closed chambered casing 27 divided into two compartments by a diaphragm 28.. The lower compartment 29 communicates by means of a pipe 30 with the branch pipe '25. Y

Superimposed upon the diaphragm 28 is an annular member 31 having at the upper end thereof a contact member or flan e 32.

Adjustably mounted in the casin 2 is a stop member 33 which may be ad usted to limit the upward movement of the diaphragm 28, this member 33 being in axial alignment with the center of said diaphragm 28.

a rod 37 having a contact member 38 on the lower end thereof. 2

This rod 37 may be adjusted endwise and locked in position by means of the locking nut 39.

When there is no oil pressure within'the circulating system 21, and 30, the dia phragm is in the position indicated in the drawing with the movable contact member 32 in contact with the normally fixed contact member 38.

From the rod 37 extends a wire 40 to a lamp 41 which is connected by a wire 42 to a switch 43. The opposite end of this switch 43 is connected by a wire 44 to a battery 45 and then by wire 46 to the ground 47. I n

The switch 43 is also connected by a wire 48 to a coil 49, the opposite end of which is connected by a wire 50 to a distributor 51.

This distributor 51 is connected by a wire 52 to a spark plug 53 in the upper end of the cylinder 11.

a When the engine is in operation, the

pump 24 will be actuated to force oil under "pressure through the oil circulating system into the bearings on the various parts of the engine and also into the chamber 29 beneath the diaphragm 28. I

When the oil pressure. reaches a predetermined point, the diaphragm 28 will be moved upwardly and thereby cause the 'movable contact member 32 to be separted' from the'normally fixed contact member 38 and break the circuit.

This breaking of the circuit will extinguish the lamp 41 which is placed on the car where it is in view of the driver at all times. When the car is in use, if the lamp 41 is not lit the driver will know that there is a proper circulation of the lubricating oil but should the lamp at any time become lighted, he will at once he informed that the pressure in the oil circulating system has reached a point below normal and that an additional amount of oil is re-' quired for the proper operation of the system.

By means of this circuit breaker, the lubricating system will be operative on all grades over which the car is passing as, the operation of the device does not depend upon the level of the oil either the crank casing or in the external compartment connected thereto. I

The ignition system 48, 4t, 50, 51, 52 and 53 being also connected to the main switch 43, if the car should happen to be left with the switch on and. the engine stalled, soon as the pump 24 fails to operate, the pressure in the oil circulating system will decrease to such an extent that the diaphragm 28 will return to its normal posi manure by causing the lamp 41 to be lighted to warn the driver that the switch is on and should be moved into off position.

In other words, the lamp 41 is a warning signal for the proper operation of the oil circulating system while the car is in use and a warning as to the position of the main switch 43 when the car is not in use.

This is of considerable importance as it often happens that the engine becomes stalled just at the time that the driver is prepared to leave the car for a long period and as the engine is not running he is liable to fail to open the switch and as aconsequence of this failure, the battery is liable to be used up and often over-heated to such said ignition switch and including a signal; and means controlled by the pressure in said circulating system for maintaining said signal circuit open when the pressure in said circulating system exceeds a predetermined value but permitting it to close when the pressure falls below the predetermined value and the ignition circuit is closed.

2. In a device of theclass described, an

internal combustion engme; an oil circulating system; mechanical means driven by the engine for forcing o1l under pressure throug said system; an ignition circuit for said engine including a switch; a signaling circuit controlled by said switch and including a signal; and a circuit breaker in said signaling circuit and controlled by the pressure in said oil circulating system whereby the si "nalin circuit will be maintained open w en t e pressure exceeds a predetermined value but will be ermitterl to close when thepressure falls elow the predetermined value and the ignition cirunit is closed.

3. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine; an oil circulating system for said engine; mechanical means driven by the engine for forcing oil under pressure through said system; an ignition circuit for said engine including an ifinition switch; a signaling circuit controlled 7 said ignition switch and including a signal; and means in said circulating system adapted to maiigtain the signaling'cirouit open when; the

internal combustion engine; an oil circulat-' ing system for said engine; mechanical means driven by the engine for forcing oil under pressure-through said system; an ignition circuit for said engine including a switch; a signaling circuit controlled by said ignition swltch and including a si rial; and means controlled by the decrease pressure in the oil circulatin system for actuating the signal until t e ignition circuit is broken.

5. In a device'of the class described, an

internal combustion engine I rovided with a compartment containing oi and having a dischar e pipe extending therefrom; a 3

pump riven by the engine for forcing oil under ressure from said compartment into said plpe an which said pi e communicates; an ignition circuit for sai engine including an ignition switch; a signaling circuit controlled by said ignition. switch and including a signal; and means controlled by the pressure in said oil "circulating system for maintaining said signal circuit open when said pressure exceeds a predetermined value but permitting it to close when the pressure falls below the redetermined value and the ignition circuit is closed.

6. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine rovided with a compartment containin oi and having a dischar e pipe extending therefrom; a pump riven by said engine for forcing oil under ressure from sai compartment into said pipe; an oil circulating systemiwith which said pi communicates; an ignition circuit for sai engine including an ignition switch; a signaling circuit controlled b said ignition switch and including a signa and means controlled by the pressure in saidoil v circulating system for; maintaining said si nal circuit open when said pressure excee s a predetermined value but permitting it to oil circulating system with ing said si close when the pressure falls below the predetermined value and the ignition circuit is closed. a

7. In' a device of the class described, an oil circulating system; means driven by, the engine for forcing oil under pressure through said system; an electric circuit including a switch; a signaling circuit controlled by the pressure in said oil circulating system for maintaining said signal circuit open when the pressure 1n said device exceeds a predetermined value but permitting I it to close when the pressure falls below the predetermined value and the switch in said electric circuit is closed.

8. In a device of the class described, an oil circulating system; mechanical means driven by the engine for forcing oil under pressure through said s stem; an electric circuit including a switca signaling circuit controlled by-said switch and including a'signal; and means controlled by the pressure in said circulating system for maintaining said signal circuit open when the pressure in said circulating system exceeds a predetermined value but; permittin it to close when the pressure falls below tIie predetermined value and the switch in said electric circuit is closed.

9. In a device of the class described, an

oil circulating system; mechanical means driven by the engine for forcing oil under pressure through said stem; an electric circuit including a switc a signaling circuit controlled by said switch and including a lamp; and means controlled by the pressure in said circulating system for maintainal circuit open when the pressure in said circulating system exceeds a predetermined value but permitting it to close when the pressure falls below the predetermined value and theswitch in said electric circuit is closed.

Signed by us at 746-7 Old South Bldg, Boston, Mass, this Sthday of Ma 1920. EMERY J. DASI-INER.

. CHARLES H. FLINT. Witnesses: I

- WALTER E. LOMBARD,

NATHAN C. Lommm; 

